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College of Ag 19th Annual Recognition Banquet
Every year, we honor our distinguished professors and alumni with a formal Recognition Banquet. Below is a list of recognitions and honors given this year.
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LaZell W. Allen
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Art LaMont
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Craig J. Louder
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Rudy S. Tarpley
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John D. Morrey
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Basudeb Biswas
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Dairy Farmers of America Inc., Mountain Rural Council
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Lyman H. Rich
Donald F. Smee
James LeGrande Shupe Achievement Award
 - Legrande Shupe Achievement Award.jpg)
Donald F. Smee received his Ph.D. degree in Biology at Utah State University in 1981, working with Dr. Robert W. Sidwell, a renowned researcher in antiviral chemotherapy. He was appointed Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences at Utah State University in 1989, serving as a member of a research group in the Institute for Antiviral Research. In 1996 he took a leave of absence from Utah State University for work involving the discovery of new therapies for smallpox and related orthopoxvirus infections. From this effort, a promising new compound, cidofovir (a licensed antiviral drug for other indications), was investigated and found to be a promising new treatment for orthpoxvirus infections. In June of 1999 he returned to Utah State University to resume his position in the Institute for Antiviral Research. The current research emphasis is in the chemotherapy of influenza virus infections. In addition, new projects are underway to study the treatment of orthopoxvirus infection.
Brian K. Warnick
Faculty Advisor of the Year
Dr. Brian Warnick received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees from Utah State University and his Ph.D. from Oregon State University. He joined the Agricultural Systems Technology and Education Department's faculty in 2004. He believes that undergraduate advising by faculty members is central to the success of students. He is an exemplary advisor for students in the ASTE Department.
LaZell W. Allen
Service to Students
LaZell Allen has worked in the ASTE Department since 2001. She is "the face" of the department as she meets, greets, and serves students, faculty, staff and visitors in a friendly and professional manner. LaZell serves approximately 190 students within the department...and all with a smile every single day!
Art LaMont
Service to Faculty
Art LaMont, Business Manager of the ADVS Department has met the challenge of maintaining the many diverse fiscal affairs of the University and it's subsidiaries. He has served in this capacity since 2000, as well as his 10 years in the USU Controllers Office. He works with approximately 34 faculty members and their staff assistants, with graduate students, student clubs, and colleagues across the campus. Art's goal is to make sure faculty get the help and support they need with regards to their financial concerns.
Craig Louder
Scholar of the Year
Craig Louder transfered to Utah State University to major in Animal Science after serving an LDS mission. While at Utah State, Craig has been actively involved both on and off campus. Craig was a member of the Platinum Award Winning team at the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge National Competition held in South Dakota in March of '07. He has also been actively involved in the Animal Science Club and served in an IMA Chapter presidency in the LDS Institute. Craig plans on attending vet school after completing his schooling here at Utah State.
Rudy S. Tarpley
Teacher of the Year
Dr. Tarpley received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education from New Mexico State University and his Master of Education degree and Ph.D. from Mississippi State University. He joined the ASTE faculty in 2002, bringing with him several years of successful teaching experiences. He repeatedly scores very highly in his student course evaluations and one department alumnus sums up Dr. Tarpley's passion for teaching, saying, "I love how enthusiastic he is about learning and agriculture. It spreads throughout the room while he is teaching." -Kody Howells, alumnus
John D. Morrey
Researcher of the Year
 Researcher of the Year.jpg)
John D. Morrey, Ph.D., is a Research Professor of Virology in the ADVS Department. He is also Director of the Institute for Antiviral Research. He is currently the P.I. of three NIH contracts and grants for the discovery of therapies for West Nile virus, hepatitis B virus, and prion or Mad Cow-like diseases. Most recently, his research team has discovered that a potent monoclonal antibody is effective in preventing paralysis and mortality when administered even after the brain has been infected. This important discovery has led the FDA to grant permission for a company to do clinical trials for West Nile virus, which is one of only a few possible West Nile treatments being investigated in people at this time.
Basudeb Biswas
Distinguished Professor Award
Dr. Basudeb Biswas has devoted his career to the study of international development in agriculture. He is known as a master teacher and outstanding researcher. He nurtures his students' intellect by challenging them to reach higher in their research efforts and professional aspirations. Many students count Dr. Biswas as their mentor and friend. He has had a tremendous positive impact not only in the classroom, but also in his outstanding and ongoing research efforts. Through his students, Dr. Biswas has left an ongoing legacy that will continue to contribute to solving international development issues and problems for many years to come.
Dairy Farmers of America Inc., Mountain Rural Council
Distinguished Service Award
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc (DFA) is a milk marketing cooperative owned and operated by dairy farmers. DFA annually produces and markets milk for more than 19,000 farmers across the United States. This highly effective organization includes many dedicated employees, including Mr. Kelly Downs, Director of Member Services for the Mountain Area Council DFA. Because of its strong commitment to the dairy industry, the 2007 College of Agriculture Distinguished Service Award recipient is the DFA organization, which is represented by Mr. Kelly Downs.
Lyman H. Rich
Alumni Hall of Honor
Dairy Scientist, Extension educator, humble servant, and College of Agriculture alumnus; Professor Lyman H. Rich had many titles in his 50 years of service to the dairy industry and Utah State University. He enrolled at the then Utah State Agricultural College (USAC) in 1922, and in 1925, Lyman graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. In 1930, he earned a Masters degree in Dairy Science from the University of Minnesota under the direction of Dr. Clarence Henry Eckles, one of the foremost dairymen in the world.
Lyman served as an agricultural Extension agent in Utah County and as a Utah Extension Dairy specialist at USAC for 23 years. He was a national board member of the American Dairy Science Association and authored more than 100 publications to help farmers implement better dairy production. Yet, he brought worldwide recognition to Utah State University and the state of Utah by designing the Dairy Herd Improvement programs that rocketed the dairy industry into the 20th century by implementing the electronic storage of dairy records.
After studying artificial insemination in 12 European countries and in many states in the U.S., Lyman initiated the Cache Valley Breeding Association, an organization that did away with "scrub" local herb bulls and created the best pedigreed bulls to breed thousands of cows nationwide.